Many of you may have read about Greg’s and Renee’s motor bike accident and have been praying for them. Here is their update on their situation. They has had many answers to prayer, so thank you for joining with them in praying. Greg writes;
Just thought I’d send an update of how things are since our motorcycle accident of July 12th.
Renee suffered much internally – swollen knee with water on it, nerve damage to her shoulder & elbow & other internal trauma due to her previous accidents. This has been challenging for her in house-keeping & day to day living. We have had a girl come in all week to do the majority of the housework.
Me – my foot is less swollen & I am able to put some pressure on it. I still need the two crutches to get around. My torn skin all up my arm hasn’t healed as well as it should due to infection caused by improper care at the hospital…such is Kenya. We went to the best hospital available too so you can imagine how the others are. I had a difficult day yesterday with incredible dizziness & nausea which made me feel like vomiting. I spent the day on my side resting a lot – which was probably good for my foot to stay off of it.
One of the great challenges recently is we’ve been without running water [once again] for about 6 weeks. You can imagine the difficulty for both of us hauling buckets of water around. Plus, we have to pay dearly for water to be brought to us.
Our business – SOLMK Top Shop – I wondered when this accident happened how we would cope since I am the key salesman for the business. I prayed immediately asking the Lord that since I’d been so diligent to do so much marketing over these past months – it would be great if He brought us the business. He came through as usual! My lawyer called to order some shirts – who also advised us to be properly represented so we could be compensated for our injuries & loss….so we hired him.
The next day – an NGO that has previously ordered 200 shirts back in May – a decent order – came to me with an order for 1000! Wow. It isn’t confirmed – but the guy said to me – they have to get two other quotes – but they just want to give the order to us. So, pray for that!
Then a key witness to the accident – a guy who stayed with us from the accident to the hospital & kindly got us bottled water & other things – turns out he [Wickliff] is a salesman with experience in the same field as our business. I met with him a couple times – checked out his CV – hired him Friday. He is well connected with many schools & businesses so should be able to generate a lot more business. He is also born again. Here’s hoping for a long term mutually beneficial relationship.
Another lovely blessing this week is – we love our compound where we live & have our youth centre but have always dreaded the road in & out because it has so many deep holes & problems….especially during rainy season. Well, this very week, they have laid down murram & it is greatly improved – I’m pretty sure in the next couple weeks we’ll have such a great road which will make living here all the more enjoyable.
Our immediate challenge is – not surprisingly – finances. Because of the accident – we’ve had to put out monies toward the hospital & medications & dressings, along with added travel costs to & from our home. The mechanic has said the repairs to my bike are about 20000 Kenya Shillings, which is about $300US. Adding everything up to date is about 67000 Kenya Shillings or just over $800US. This has seriously depleted our support money, so we are hoping the lawyer gets some quick action – please pray for that.
This accident is …I don’t know how many now – I’ve lost count. It was my worst nightmare – as I have prayed that I would never be carrying Renee when in a motorcycle mishap. Seeing her bloody & so hurt laying on the pavement was emotionally draining for me – I don’t cope very well with that.
Even for myself now – I go on missions that are generally a 2 hour or better trip away every second week. It takes everything in me to get back on the bike & go somewhere. While being economical – that’s just not enough to keep me going. Please pray for a vehicle for us….it’s becoming more & more necessary.
The ministry is doing awesome – especially the youth clubs – I couldn’t be happier or more excited about what God is doing through our centres.
Almost forgot to mention a major blessing that came this week. As you know, we’ve been completely financially responsible for our Ugandan son John. It’s been difficult with each passing year & higher levels at school to get his fees & expenses together. We’ve really struggled. We’ve been praying for his university which comes next year – options are few & any decent university is expensive. John has always been a high achiever & done his best in school. We have talked & prayed with him about this & said God will provide a way. I got a call this week from KNOD foundation – http://www.knod.net/ – these people held a conference here in Kisumu a couple months ago & invited me as an NGO rep to hear what they were offering. I loved the whole concept as it is something that will help so many to have a better future.
How it works is the student applies on-line to KNOD – [I did that recently on John’s behalf with his permission]. When a student is accepted – KNOD contributes ½ of their university fees $5000US & then the NGO or donor contributes the balance, which is $5000 + $2500 living expenses [which KNOD matches]. The student goes for a couple weeks to their training facility in Nairobi – then is flown to Malaysia to Help University for 5 months [it is a multi-cultural Uni]. After completing this time, they come back home to complete the rest of their training on-line. This will work so well as it will keep us together longer as a family & cut the expense of living away from home. KNOD informed me that John has been accepted!!!
The soonest he can enrol is for their January intake. Our hope is to raise the needed funds through our business or by donation. The awesome thing about if we find a willing donor is they have the option, once the student has completed their 3 year studies – the donor may have their full donation returned to them – or opt to leave it invested for another needy student!
Prayer requests –
1. Healing for our bodies
2. The Lord keeps bringing us new business
3. The Lord continues to bless our ministry & bring needed leaders
4. Running water
5. The matching funds for John’s University
6. Compensation for our financial loss/expenses
Love & blessings,
Greg & Renee
another great update ….the Lord has indeed brought us more business & new business!!! So amazing & so God!
quick update – we have running water! Answered prayer.